Shed forming device

ABSTRACT

The present invention covers a device for forming textile weaves on a loom having a plurality of sheds following each other in the longitudinal direction of the warp threads, wherein there are provided rows, extending transversely of the warp threads, of shedding elements alternatingly establishing the upper and lower shed and travelling along the warp threads, so that they retain the latter in their upper or lower shed position over a predetermined travel path.

O UnIted States Patent 11 3,848,642 Steiner Nov. 19, 1974' [54] SHEDFORMING DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor! Alois SteinerRiedEn/SG, 452,549 10/1949 ltaly l39/28 Switzerland [73] Assignee: RutiMachinery Works Ltd., primary Examiner HemyS Jaudon formerly CasperHonegger, Ruti, Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald D. Denton Switzerland[22] FIled. Apr. 4, 1973 ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 347,712

The present invention covers a device for forming textile weaves on aloom having a plurality of sheds fol- [30] Forelg Apphcauon Pnomy Datalowing each other in the longitudinal direction of the Apr. 14, 1972Switzerland 5654/72 warp threads, wherein there are provided rows,extending transversely of the warp threads, of shedding [52] US. Cl.139/28, 139/48 l t alternatingly establishing the upper and [51] Int.Cl. D03C 13/00 lower hed and travelling along the warp threads, 50 Fieldof arch 139/1 1, 28, 1 l 48 that they retain the latter in their upperor lower shed position over a predetermined travel path. [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1,594,542 8/1926Manley 139/48 PATENTEL HUV I 9 974 saw 30F 3 3 8 a RF 1 SHED'FORMINGDEVICE BACKGROUND In the endeavor to increase the weaving velocity, itis possible to adopt a procedure whereby one shed is formed after theother in the direction of the warp threads, in such manner that aplurality of such sheds is continuously available. In this way, itbecomes possible to effect a plurality of picks simultaneously. In sucha weaving system, the weft insertion procedure has progressed to thegreatest extent (or is terminated) in that shed of those sheds which areopen at a given instant, which was first formed, whereas in the shedlast formed the picking procedure is still in the initial phase and inthe intermediate sheds it is in corresponding intermediate states. Withthis arrangement, the sheds are distributed over a laminar zone, so thatit is possible to speak of a laminar loom or, since the sheds extend inaligned, juxtaposed arrangement, of an aligned shed loom. The closestprior art known to the applicant in connection with the subjectapplication is German Pat. No. 1,008,215 and Swiss Pat. No. 164,808.

SUMMARY It is the object of the present invention, in such an alignedshed loom, to make possible the production of various weaves. Theinvention is characterized in that there is arranged before the zone ofthe sheds control means for laterally deflecting each warp thread inaccordance with a programme, thereby associating the shed-formingelements determining the establishment of an upper or lower shed withone of the said warp threads.

This invention will now be described hereinbelow with reference toexamples of the following embodiments and to the accompanying drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a cross-section throughan aligned shed" loom of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed elevation of the said crosssection in the zoneof the control means and of the shedding elements for forming the wovencloth;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the control means according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the shedding elements forming theupper and lower sheds shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a view taken on the line V-V of FIG. 4 of the said elementsin longitudinal section; and

FIG. 6 is a view of a further embodiment of a portion of the controlmeans.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the figures, like elements havebeen given the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the warp threads 11 travel from a warp beam 12 tocontrol means 13 with the aid of which the warp threads areassociatedwith an upper or lower shed position in accordance with a predeterminedcloth pattern. From the control means 13, the warp threads 11 travel tothe weaving rotor 14. Arranged over the periphery of weaving rotor 14are rows of shedding elements 15. The weaving process takes place on therotating weaving rotor 14, in that zone in which open sheds areavailable. The woven cloth 16 travels over the cloth draw-off roller 18to the cloth beam 19.

The control device 13 for associating the warp threads 11 with an upperand lower shed position is shown again, to an enlarged scale, as alateral view in FIG. 2 and as a plan view in FIG. 3. The warp threads 11are, after beng drawn off from the warp beam 12, guided over controlrollers 20, 21, 22, and 23. FIG. 3 shows the surface of each roller 20to 23 as a development located in the plane of the drawing. Each rolleris formed with a plurality of guide grooves whereof the grooves 40, 41formed in the roller 20, the grooves 42, 43 in the roller 21, thegrooves 44, 45 in the roller 22 and the grooves 46, 47 in the roller 23are shown. The grooves formed in each roller are separate from eachother and each groove extends about the generated surface of the rollerand is continuous. For the sake of simplicity, four control rollers 20to 23 are shown; however, as a rule there will be more than four suchrollers. Again for the sake of simplicity, that pattern or configurationof the rollers 40 to 47 is provided which will produce a linen weave.

In order to show clearly the travel path of the warp threads 11,referring to FIG. 3 eight individual threads or yarns have been designedby numerals 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31. Associated with eachwarp thread 24 to 31 is one of the grooves 40 to 47 and each warp threadis permanently disposed in the groove associated with it, for examplethe warp thread 24 in the groove 40 and the warp thread 25 in the groove42. The warp threads 11 or 24 to 31 respectively are so guided, withreference to the rollers 20 to 23, that at one of the generatrices 48 to51 they are lifted off from the associated rollers of the rollers 20 to23. They take up their position in those grooves of the grooves 40 to 47which are associated with them at locations located, with reference tothe direction of rotation indicated by the arrow 52 of the rollers 20 to23, upstream of the generatrices 40 to 51. In the case of the threads oryams 24 and 28, these are the locations designated 54. The rollers 20 to23 rotate in the direction of the arrow 52 at a velocity such that, perpick, they rotate by a value such that each warp thread control locationtravels to the site of the next warp thread control location. The saidwarp thread control locations have been given reference numerals (i.e.,numerals 53 to 56) only at the roller 20. With each pick, the controllocations 53 travel to the site of the control locations 54 and thelatter to the site of the control locations 55, etc. If, as in thisexample, four such locations 53 to 56 are provided over the periphery ofthe rollers 20 to 23, then each roller 20 to 23 effects, for one pick, arotation through Provided above the rollers 20 to 23 is an endless band,belt or tape 60 rotating about the rollers 61, 62. The band 60 hasseparating elements whereof the lower ones have been designated 32 to35. The said separating elements are plate-shaped and serve formaintaining the sorting of the warp th'reads24 to 31. The direction ofrotation of the band 60 is indicated by the arrow 64. The velocity ofrotation is so calculated that each of the elements 32 to 35 travels, inthat working phase in which the rollers 20 to 23 perform a rotation fromone warp thread control location 53 to 56 to the next one, from itsposition into the position of the elements immediately preceding it, forexample the element 34 passes into the position of the element 33 shown.

FIG. 4 shows a section of the shedding element 15, taken along the lineIVIV of FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 shows a section along the line V-V of FIG. 4.The section V-V is taken parallel to the axis of the weaving rotor 14.In this direction, there are arranged alternatingly the sheddingelements 70 or 71 respectively forming the upper and lower sheds. Inorder that the warp threads 11 may be reliably retained in the uppershed, the elements 70 forming the upper shed have in their uppermostportion a trough-shaped abutment or bearing means 72. The elementsforming the lower shed have in their upper ends an abutment or bearingsurface 73. The elements 70 are formed with a recess 74 serving forguiding the picking means. FIG. 5 shows an inserted weft thread 75.

Shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 3 are two shedding elements 70 or71 respectively forming the lower shed. From FIG. 3 it will be perceivedhow the warp threads 24 to 31, the location of which has been determinedby the guide grooves 40 to 47 for upper or lower shed (i.e., which havebeen sorted) and the sorting of which is maintained after travel throughthe groove associated with them by the elements 32 to 35, travel towardsthe shedding elements 70 and 71 forming the upper and lower sheds.

This travel path of the warp threads 24 to 31, travelling in thesequence shown from the warp beam 12, can be followed with the aid ofreference numerals 24 to 31 and is as follows: the thread or yarn 24travels at a location 54 into the groove 40, leaving the latter onceagain at the location of the generatrix 48, i.e., at location 55 (seealso FIG. 2). A short distance thereafter, there are already separatingelements 35 laterally of the thread 24, for deflecting the latter intothe prescribed shedding element 70 or 71. In the case of the linen weaveselected for this example, the thread 24 is, as seen in the direction oftravel of the separating elements 32 and 35, to the right with respectto the left-hand separating element 35, to the left with respect to thecorresponding separating element 34, to the right with respect to thecorresponding separating element 33 and to the left with respect to thecorresponding separating element 32. Thus it travels to an element 71forming a lower shed. The thread 25 travels approximately at thelocation 54 (which has not been given a reference numeral) of the groove42 on to the latter and leaves it again approximately at location 55 orat the site of the generatrix 49 and, commencing from a short distancefurther on it is between the separating elements 34. It travels on theright-hand side of the left-hand separating element 34, to the leftrelative to the associated element 33 and to the right relative to theassociated element 32 and travels thereupon on to an element 70 formingan upper shed. This travel pattern, and also the travel pattern of theremaining threads 26 to 31 will readily be perceived from FIG. 3. Theelements 32 to 35 travel in those planes which are defined by theseparation zone of the upper shed element 70 and the lower shed element71. Furthermore, the average spacing d (see FIGS. 3 and 5) of twoadjacent grooves corresponds to the sum of the widths of an upper and alower shed element 70, 71. The travel pattern of the arrangement is suchthat for a rotation of the rollers 20 to 23 through 90, whichcorresponds to the movement of one control location to the next one, forexample of location 54 into the position of location 55, the elements 32to 35 travel into the next position, for example the element 35 travelsinto that position in which the element 34 is shown. During such aworking phase, each row of shedding elements 15 travels from itsposition into the position of the row of shedding elements immediatelypreceding it, i.e, the weaving rotor 14 thereby rotates through theangle a (see FIG. 2).

In operation of the loom, insertion of a weft thread may take placeduring that time interval during which a shed is open. This is the caseaccording to FIG. 2, while the shedding elements 15 are traveling fromthe angular position 30 into the angular position 31. The weft insertioncan be effected by means of picking means, for example a shuttle,co-rotating with the weaving rotor. Such picking means is, however, notshown since the invention is independent of the nature of weftinsertion.

For forming the cloth weave, the warp thread 24 is lifted at location55, i.e., at the site of the generatrix 48, off from the roller 20 andtakes up its position, as seen in the direction of movement of theelements 32 to 35, to the right of the element 35 furthest to the left.During the immediately preceding sorting step, the control location 56was at the site of the lifting-off location or generatrix 48. The thread24 which is lifted-off at this location 56 was to the left of thatelement 34 which, as seen in the said direction of movement, wasfurthest to the left and was therefore so sorted as to pass intoposition on the left-hand side of the said element 34. During thesorting step immediately preceding this procedure, the control location53 was at the site of the generatrix 48. Thus, the thread 24 wasdeflected on to the right-hand side of the element 33 located furthestto the left, and remains during the entire passage of the said element33 on the right-hand side thereof. Finally, during the renewed sortingprocess, the thread 24 was guided onto the left-hand side of the element32 disposed furthest to the left in FIG. 3. The thread 24 is so guidedby the element 32 that it takes up its position in an element 71 forminga lower shed. During the travel of the element 33 following the element32 past the shedding elements 70, 71, the thread 24 takes up itsposition on an element forming an upper shed. During the travel of theelement 34 past the elements 70, 71, the thread 24 is again fed to anelement 70 forming a lower shed and, finally, on passage of the element35, once again to an element 70 forming an upper shed.

Analogous conditions apply also to the further warp threads 25 to 31 andthe sorting procedure can quite readily be ascertained with reference tothe reference numerals shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it will be seen that it isunnecessary to provide a corresponding description thereof.

It is clear that the sorting of the warp threads, for a predeterminedseries or row of shedding elements, for example the series or row of theelements 70, 71 shown in FIG. 3, does not take place simultaneously inthe case of all the warp threads. If, referring to FIG. 3, the positionof the warp threads 24 to 31 at the site of the shedding elements 70, 71is viewed, then the position of the threads 27 and 31 is defined by thecontrol locations 55 or the roller 23 and maintained by the separatingplates 32. The position of the threads 26 and 30 had, however, beendetermined in the immediately preceding working phase by the controllocations 56 of the roller 22 and maintained following on that locationin which the plates 33 are shown in FIG. 3. Correspondingly, the threads25 and 29 were sorted by the control locations 53 of the roller 21 twoworking phases before the working phase shown in FIG. 3, when the plate32 was disposed between the rollers 21 and 22. Finally, in that workingphase which was three phases in front of the one shown, the threads 24and 28 were sorted by the control locations 54 of the roller and guidedby the separating plates 32 in the sorted position, to the sheddingelements 70, 71. Expressed in other words, this situation means that thethreads 24 to 31 arranged in the illustrated row of shedding elements70, 71 in the upper and lower sheds, are associated with controllocations 53 to 56 which, relative to the control locations 55 of thecontrol roller 23 adjacent the given row of shedding elements 70, 71,are advanced from the rotational aspect on each of the further rollers20 to 22. In this connection, what are concerned are those controllocations 56 of the roller 22 which are advanced by one position, thosecontrol locations 53 of the roller 21 which are advanced by twopositions, and those control locations 54 of the roller 20 which areadvanced by three positions. Thus, the control locations are advanced,on a given one of the rollers 20 to 23, by as many positions as thereare rollers available between the given roller and the shedding elements70, 71.

It is clear that each warp thread 11 which has been directed intoshedding element 70 or 71 remains, during the entire travel of theshedding elements 15 or 70, 71 between the angular positions and 31, inits shedding element 15. Thereby, a shed formed to correspond to adesired cloth pattern in the angular position 30, is maintainedunchanged until it has travelled past the angular position 31. Since theshed is open through this entire angle range, it is available forinsertion of a pick during this entire movement. Insertion of the pickmay be effected for example by means of a shuttle propelled by springforce. In this case, the aperture 74 serves for guiding the shuttle.

It is clear that due to a correspondingly different selection in respectof the configuration of the grooves to 47 or by changing the arrangementof the control 10- cations 53 to 56 relative to the rollers 20 to 23 ofaxial direction, it would be possible to produce weaves other than alinen weave.

It is equally clear that the number of rollers 20 to 23 is not limitedto four. As a rule, depending on the desired density of the warp threads11, approximately eight such rollers will be provided. In this case, inthe case of a linen weave, four warp threads will take up their positionin each shedding element 70, 71.

Finally, the number of thread deflecting locations 53 to 56 arrangedover the periphery of the rollers 20 to 23 need not, as in the exampleillustrated, be fixed at four, i.e, the rotation of the said rollersneed not be through 90 per working phase. This embodiment can beselected to correspond to particular circumstances. It is merelynecessary to ensure that the rollers 20 to 23 are compelled to rotate,from one working phase'to the next one, from the one control location tothe next. If, for example, there are six control locations, then therollers rotate through per working phase.

In an advantageous embodiment, the rollers 20 to 23 are assembled fromindividual, juxtaposed discs 36, as shown in FIG. 6. This figure shows alateral elevation of a roller. Formed in each disc 36 is a groove 37corresponding to the grooves 40 to 47. It will be clear that each groovehas eight control locations 38 corresponding to the thread controllocations 53 to 56.

This disclosure of preferred embodiments and modifications of theinvention is to be interpreted as illustrative of forms the inventionmay take and other modifications will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. The invention is not to be restricted except by the scope ofthe appended claims wherein the novel features desired to be protectedby Letters Patent are set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for producing cloth weaves on a loom having a plurality ofsheds following each other in the longitudinal direction of the warpthreads, wherein there are provided rows, extending transversely of thewarp threads, of shedding elements alternatingly determining upper andlower sheds, which said shedding elements travel along the warp threads,so that they retain the warp threads on their upper or lower shedposition over a predetermined zone, a control means arranged before thesaid zone for laterally deflecting each of the warp threads inaccordance with a program, thereby associating each warp thread with oneof the shedding elements determining the upper or lower shed, whereinsaid control means comprises at least one rotatable control roller, theaxis of which is arranged to extend perpendicular to the warp threadsand which has a plurality of warp thread guide grooves which extend,separate from each other and continuously, in juxtaposition on thegenerated surface of the control roller, about the latter, and extend toand fro obliquely with reference to the axis of the control roller by apredetermined amount which, according to said program, is preferablyequal to the spacing of adjacent upper and lower shed elements, thelocations which are outermost in the axial direction of the said groovesbeing control locations for controlling the warp threads.

2. Device according to claim 1 in which said control means comprises aplurality of control rollers which are arranged parallel to each otherand one behind the other in the direction of the warp threads, and thewarp threads are associated, corresponding to their sequence, on the onehand with the control rollers in accordance with the sequence of thelatter in the direction of the warp threads, and on the other hand withthe guide grooves to correspond to the sequence thereof in thelongitudinal direction of the control rollers.

3. Device according to claim 2 in which in each working phase for onerotation of the control rollers from one control location to the nextone, there takes place a movement of the separating elements by adistance equal to the spacing between adjacent control rollers, and alsoa movement of the rows of shedding elements by a distance equal to thespacing between adjacent rows of shedding elements.

4. Device according to claim 3 in which the threads arranged in theupper and lower sheds in the given row of shedding elements areassociated with the control locations which, with reference to thecontrol locations of a roller adjacent the given row of sheddingelements, are advanced from the rotational aspect on each of the furtherrollers by a number of positions equal to the number of control rollersavailable between the further roller and the given row of sheddingelements.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the control roller comprises aseries of juxtaposed discs each of which has formed on its surface oneof said guide grooves.

6. Device according to claim 1 in which the guide grooves afford, overthe periphery of the control roller,

a plurality of control locations and simultaneously effective, similarcontrol locations are located on a generatrix of the control roller.

7. Device according to claim 1 in which said control means hasdisplaceable separating elements which, in the vicinity of said controllocations at which the warp threads are lifted off from the guidegrooves, dip in between the warp threads and remain, up to a locationforwardly of the shedding elements, between the warp threads, tomaintain the association of the warp threads with the shedding elementsuntil they are sorted into the latter.

8. Device according to claim 7 in which in each working phase for onerotation of the control rollers from one control location to the nextone, there takes place a movement of the separating elements by adistance equal to the spacing between adjacent control rollers, and alsoa movement of the rows of shedding elements by a distance equal to thespacing between adjacent rows of shedding elements.

9. Device according to claim 1 in which each of the shedding elementshas a warp thread bearing face extending in the direction of the warpthreads and located at the level of the upper and lower shed and formedwith a recess for guiding picking means during the weaving operation.

1. Device for producing cloth weaves on a loom having a plurality ofsheds following each other in the longitudinal direction of the warpthreads, wherein there are provided rows, extending transversely of thewarp threads, of shedding elements alternatingly determining upper andlower sheds, which said shedding elements travel along the warp threads,so that they retain the warp threads on their upper or lower shedposition over a predetermined zone, a control means arranged before thesaid zone for laterally deflecting each of the warp threads inaccordance with a program, thereby associating each warp thread with oneof the shedding elements determining the upper or lower shed, whereinsaid control means comprises at least one rotatable control roller, theaxis of which is arranged to extend perpendicular to the warp threadsand which has a plurality of warp thread guide grooves which extend,separate from each other and continuously, in juxtaposition on thegenerated surface of the control roller, about the latter, and extend toand fro obliquely with reference to the axis of the control roller by apredetermined amount which, according to said program, is preferablyequal to the spacing of adjacent upper and lower shed elements, thelocations which are outermost in the axial direction of the said groovesbeing control locations for controlling the warp threads.
 2. Deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said control means comprises a pluralityof control rollers which are arranged parallel to each other and onebehind the other in the direction of the warp threads, and the warpthreads are associated, corresponding to their sequence, on the one handwith the control rollers in accordance with the sequence of the latterin the direction of the warp threads, and on the other hand with theguide grooves to correspond to the sequence thereof in the longitudinaldirection of the control rollers.
 3. Device according to claim 2 inwhich in each working phase for one rotation of the control rollers fromone control location to the next one, there takes place a movement ofthe separating elements by a distance equal to the spacing betweenadjacent control rollers, and also a movement of the rows of sheddingelements by a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent rows ofshedding elements.
 4. Device according to claim 3 in which the threadsarranged in the upper and lower sheds in the given row of sheddingelements are associated with the control locations which, with referenceto the control locations of a roller adjacent the given row of sheddingelements, are advanced from the rotational aspect on each of the furtherrollers by a number of positions equal to the number of control rollersavailable between the further roller and the given row of sheddingelements.
 5. Device according to claim 1 in which the control rollercomprises a series of juxtaposed discs each of which has formed on itssurface one of said guide grooves.
 6. Device according to claim 1 inwhich the guide grooves afford, over the periphery of the controlroller, a plurality of control locations and simultaneously effective,similar control locations are located on a generatrix of the controlroller.
 7. Device according to claim 1 in which said control means hasdisplaceable separating elements which, in the vicinity of said controllocations at which the warp threads are lifted off from the guidegrooves, ''''dip'''' in between the warp threads and remain, up to alocation forwardly of the shedding elements, between the warp threads,to maintain the association of the warp threads with the sheddingelements until they are ''''sorted'''' into the latter.
 8. Deviceaccording to claim 7 in which in each working phase for one rotation ofthe control rollers from one control location to the next one, theretakes place a movement of the separating elements by a distance equal tothe spacing between adjacent control rollers, and also a movement of therows of shedding elements by a distance equal to the spacing betweenadjacent rows of shedding elements.
 9. Device according to claim 1 inwhich each of the shedding elements has a warp thread bearing faceextending in the direction of the warp threads and located at the levelof the upper and lower shed and formed with a recess for guiding pickingmeans during the weaving operation.